If you enjoy outdoor family festivals, music, cuisine and wonderful art, the Italian Street Painting Marin is the perfect combination of all of it. This colorful festival turns the streets in front of the Mission San Rafael Arcángel (Fifth & A streets) into a 30,000-foot huge concrete canvas. It is one of the largest chalk drawing festival in the country and have brought millions of visitors since 1994 to downtown San Rafael. (located just 25 minutes north of San Francisco)

This wonderful event is returning with a new name: “Italian Street Painting Marin”, formerly known as “The Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival”. which was cancelled in 2011 due to insufficiency of funding. Luckily it is back thanks to the efforts of Sue and Joe Carlomagno residents of Mill Valley and now we can appreciated the roads of San Rafael transformed into breathtaking masterpieces again!!!

Below is one of my favorite work of art at the festival back in 2008. “JULIET” (Olivia Hussey/1958) by Artist Cuong Nguyen. I remember coming back about 10 times to see how this talented artist progressed during the day Since I have a little one I usually go to the festival on Sunday to appreciate the finished pieces of art but Saturday is the official “Family Day” and it is less crowded.

This cow piece by Allison Snopek was my daughter’s favorite in 2010.

My daughter always enjoys becoming a street painter (known as Madonnari in Italian). For $10 children up to 12-year old are welcome to design their own street paintings at “Children’s Avenue”. A 2’x2’ square and a box of chalk are provided. Lots of fun!!! By far, they are the most valuable pieces of art! 😉

Thank You for sharing about this great festival. My whole family loves art and this would be a great thing do together as a family. Do the artists paint directly on the street? or are the pictures just laid down as a canvas? You mentioned Chalk is all the work done in chalk?

Yes, the artists uses chalks to draw this beautiful pieces of art directly on the streets. It is definitively worth it to see. If you live close by go on Saturday to see the artists working and come back on Sunday to see the finished work. Victoria

How did I miss this very cool site? Awesome masthead graphic, it’s perfect for the site. Your content is well written and presented as well. You are a good storyteller. I’ve visited many of these places myself but you articles make me want to go again.

I know about this event but have never visited it. I may give it a look see. Well done on this site. I will be following it from here on.

This year we will be at this event. As always what your offer is very interesting, and many times I go to your blog to give information to someone in need and do something with my family. I think I’m going to convince my son Aurélien to participate in this event